Protecting device for areaways and the like



Falter-ated Sept. 2G, 1927.

Unirse s'rareserrantes K. nnns'r, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

rnornorr'ne nevica ron nenne/Ars Ann man Linn.

Appncamn med April 24,1926, serial No. 104,389.'

rlhis invention relates to a protecting -device for areaways and elevator shafts whereby the opening` around such areaways or shafts is enclosed and persons are prevented from accidently stepping` into the same and becoming injured.

lt is the object of this invention to provide a protecting` device of this' character which is automatic in its operation, so that upon openingl and closing` the door or cover -forming the closure of the areaw'ay'i orshaft will operate to fold and unfold a fonce or guard device on the sides of the areaway or shaft, and the rising` and fallingg` of the hoist- 5 ing device in the areaway or shaft will cause the door or cover to. be opened or closed and also mov-e a foldable gate into andout of its operative position along the areaway or shaft between the fence portions of the guard.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is aperspective view of an areaway arranged in the side-wallradjacent to a. building and efpuippt-idy with 'an approved form of protecting` device, which embodies my invention, showing the parts in their operative position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the areaway and the protecting device associated therewith showing the parts in their inoperative position. 7.*

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front view, partly in section, of the areaway and the protecting device associated therewith, showing; the gate in its folded or open position.

Figure l is a vertical section taken on line l-4l, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sec- 'ion taken through the mast Yof the 'hoisting apparatus in the areaway and showing` its connection with the gate of the areaway guard. y

i Similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the vseveral views of the drawings.

Althoughthis invention applicable to areaways andV elevator shafts of various forms, the same is shown in the present instance in connection with. an area-way 10, which is arranged in the side-walk adjacent to a buildingand associated withA a hoisting apparatus whereby ashes and other natevials may be raisedv from the basement; of the building4 through the areaway 'and disposed lupon t-he side-walk or -str-eet or into al wagon intended'to receive same,

This areaway is normally covered at its `upper end so ,as to prevent anythingfromv accid'ent'ly :falling into the vsame 'and for this purpose a vertically swingingA door or 'cover 11, is employed which is pivotally mounted at its inner horizontal edge by a. hinge 12 or otherwise, on the inner side wall of the areaway whereby this door -can be either lowered into its horizontal normal position in which it closes the are-away, as lshown,'inligure 2, or same maybe raised into its vertical inoperative positionin which the areaway is uncovered, assho'wn' in Figure l.

In order toprevent persons vfrom accidently steppingor falling into the areaway when the same .is open, a protecting device is provided which eXtends around the sides of the areaway above the side-walk when vthe door is open. For this purpose the protecting device comprises a. foldable gate which is adapted to be arranged above the areawav on that side thereof opposite to the lhinge of the door, and two fence sections are profided which are normally arranged along the transverse sides of the areaway above the sidewalk and between the Corresponding vertical edges of the gaterand the door.

, Eachl of these fencesefctions comprises an upright post 13, which is pivoted at its lower end by means of a pin le, or otherwise, to the inner'side of the areaway adiacent to one of its outer corners, so that this Apost can swing about a horizontal axis, a

cleat secured to theinner side of the door ad] acent to one ofits edges, upper and lower rails which are normally arranged parallel.

and horizontal and each of which consistsof a bar having outer andwinner rail. bars 416 and 17, which arerpivotallyy connected at their inner or opposing ends bymeans of a pin or rivet 18, while their outer ends-are connected pivotally with the post- 13 and lthe cleat 15, by means `of pivots 19and 20,V as shown in Figures 1 andZ'l When the Y' door 11 is in its closed or horizontal posi ltioneach ofthe fence sections is folded, as shown in Figure 2, during which time the vpost 13 isY varranged horizontally andthe barsof the'fence railsvproject a downwardlyronverging relation, lrelatively to .each other; Upon raising the door 11 into its openpositionlthe several members of each fence y.are automatically unfolded into. the position in Y. which they, form' Aan obstruction or tence`- across the' respective sides of the of the mast.

Yused for accomplishing this purpose, it is preferable to employ a stop plate 21 which is secured to the lower edge of one of the fence rail bars, adjacent to the pivot 18 thereof and adapted to engage with the underside or the lower odge portion of the companion rail bar, as shown in Figure l. This manner of stopping the unfolding movement of the rail bars is not only very simple and inexpensive but also adds to the strength of thefence as a whole when the same is unfolded into its operative position. Although each of the fence sections shown in Figure l is provided with uppe'ryand lower foldahle rails it is obvious that one or the other of these rails may be omitted and that additional rails may be employed if desired, the number of rails being determined way adjacent to one of the outer corners thereof and composed of a lower fixed section 22, and an upper vertically movable section 23 which is guidedion the lower sectionV Various means may be en ployed for raising and lowering the upper sectionof the mast relatively to the lower section thereof, but as the same form noipart `of the presentinvention it is deemed unnecessary to enter into a. detailed description and illustration of same.

On the upper end of the movable mast section is mounted a hoisting drum`24, upon which a cable 25 is wound which `latter has a hook 26 at its free end for attachment to the load to be hoisted, such as ash barrels, or other materials which are to be removed from the basement to the exterior of the building. This drum may be operated in any approved manner. Then the hoist is not in operationthe upper mast section is lowered `together with the hoisting drum and associated parts so that all par-ts of the hoist are below the door or cover 11 when the latter is closed, as shown in Figure 2. then 1t Ais-desired to use the hoist the upper mast section is elevated, as shown in Figure l., thereby bringing the hoisting drum above the level of the side-walk a suflicient distance so that any load which is hoisted or raised through the areaway may be removed laterally from the hoisting line or cable to the side-walk, street or wagon intended to receive same. y

For the purposeof causing the; door ll to be automatically opened and closed during the rising and lowering motion of the upper mast section, a connection is provided between these members which in its preferred form consists of a lifting link bar or member 27, which is pivotally connected at its lower end by means of pin 28, to tuhe 'lower part of the movable mast section, while its upper end is pivotally connected by means of a pin 29, with the under side or inner side of the door at a point between its hinged and free edge as shown in Figures l and 2.

It ffollows from this construction that when the upper mast section is lowered the link 27 will automatically swing the door ll downwardly into a horizontally -closed position and when this mast section is raised to its fullest extent, the link 27 will open the door into a vertical position, as shown in Figure l, and th at this door will be positively held in either of these extreme positions when the movable mast section is lowered oi raised and thereby preventing interference in the operation of these parts but instead insuring harmonious action of the several members associated therewith.

The gate herein before mentioned is adapted to close the space between the outer Vends of the two fence sections and the same is foldable so that same can be conveniently opened or closed to permit the load which has been lifted by the hoisting apparatus, to

be swung` laterally from over the areaway to door.

Although various means may be employed for accomplishing this purpose those shown in the drawings have be-en'approved inasmuch as they have been satisfactory inactual practice. As there shown, a guideway is pro-vided for the gate which is movable vertically in the areaway with the upper mastsection of the hoisting apparatus, which guideway in the present instell?? ,is

posed of a plurality of foldable upright bars lll as shown in Figures l and il.

or slats 39 which are laid across each other in the form of lattice wor-lr and pivotally connected at the several crossing points, byl means ofpins or rivets 33. so that the several gate bars can be folded or unfoldedand thereby either contract the gate or entend' the sam-e lengthwise in the form of lazy- 'lhe lower ends ot` the sev-eraly bars of the foldable gate are guided at their low er ends` in the guidewayA 80, which is snpported on the upper end', or movable mast mei'nber7 so that upon projecting or contra'ct'ing` the gat-e bars, the sainewill forni 'a closure across the out-er side et the areaway, between the outer ends oiethe'fence` sections. v

In order to retain these gate bars in their proper position relative to the areaway and the hoisting apparatus. and still permit the same to bemfolded and unfolded. an upright guide plate 34 mounted on the enter side of the upper part of the movable mast secA tion and this plate is provi ed wit slot-s which receive the adjacent pivots 86 which connectadjacent bars of the fol-'dable gate,

'lliy means the bars of the gate may be inl l unfolded and folded so as to either clear o. obstruct the gateway 4as required maintain the gate in its proper resa@ the areaway and vthe hoisting apparati-is;

This gate may be opened and closed ina-n,- nally if desired but it is preferable to provide means which operate constantly and 'automatically to vholdy the parts of 'che gate in a position in which the same 'close'tlie gate way but permitting same to be opened readi y manually at will.

Two cooperating bars of the gaterffor eX- ample the two bars at the extreme left hand endV of the gate adjacent to the. hoisting ap-V paratus are connected by means of a spring 37, which is adapted to be stretched or extended when the several bars of the gate are folded for opening the gate way, thereby causing this spring to constantly` tend to close the gate by drawing together the bars with which it is connected and thereby automatically close the gat-e when same is released after having been opened manually.

ln order toprevent the gat-e when in its extended or closed position from projecting beyond the guide waj.'v 30, and possibly interfering with other adjacent parts n on the walls of the areaway. a stop 38 is pro- CID vided on the outer end of the guide way .30 which is adapted to be` engaged bythe respective end of the gate when the latter is and stillinitswfully. closed-z position. and thereby avoidinterferenceas abovedescribede From the. .foregoing description it will nowbe'apparent t-hatrfthis entire prot-ectingl device forareawaysuor eleva-tor. shafts is automatic. in its operationyt-hat is to say,- when the hoistingnapparatus is raised; into. its operativelposition; the door over the. areaway will'beopened and the two fence sections and. the gate forming the. protecting. device willf be unfolded onmoved into their openativeposition, and when. the hoisting` device is lowered: into-. an. inoperative. .position the door will bezautioinatically; closed andy both; the fences and the ot the Si? tecting` .device will be folded into their; inoperative position below theV door and into the areaway5so that no partof! tl will be leftl in an exposed an?. condition throngh ovensight onghe part o anattendant.. Y l s Moreover this :protecti g. ydevice is verf? simple in.constrancheri.` the weverzali so organised that lthey are et li out order, and owing tot e s L* the several inembersthe also he produced 'at a comparatively low cost.

I claim as iinventionc-f' 1. A protecting device for areaways, coin prisng a door pivoted lat :one endy lto one side of said areaway so that it can be low- .ered into its closed horizontal position over said areaw-ay and raised intol al vertical open position, and guard connected with said door and 'movable into its :ope-native posir tion along `side of the areaway upon open- .ing the door and into .its inoperative posi.-

ti-'on within the areaway uponv closing Jthe door, said Iguard comprising foldable inenr bers pivotalfly connected with .each other and f with said :areawayfand door.7V respectively.

protecting device for fareaways, `compissingv a. .door 'pivotedf at one end to one side of .said :areaway so. `that it can @be lowered into- :its Kclosed horizontal V'position over said areawa-y and raised int-o a. vert-ical open position, and a guard connected with said door and movable into its operative position along side of the areaway upon opening the door and'into its inoperative position within the areaway upon closing the door, said guard comprising a normally upright post pivoted on `the side of the areaway opposite the pivot of the door, and two normally hor'- izontal rails consisting of barshaving their inner ends pivotally connected with each other and their outer ends pivotally con-y nected, respectively, with the upper end of said post and the inner side of said` door.

3. A protecting device for areaways, comprising adoor pivoted at one end to one side of said areaway so that it can be lowered into its closed horizontal position over said areaway and raisedv into a vertical open poslit-ion, and a guard connected. with said door and movable into its operative position along side of the areaway upon opening the door and into its inoperative position Within the areavvay upon closing the door,` said guard comprisinga. normally upright post pivoted on the side ofthe areaivay opposite the pivot of the door, two normally horizontal rails consisting of bars having their inner ends pivotally connected with each other and their outer ends pivotally oonneeted, respeeftively, with the upper end of said post and the inner side of said door; and a stop arranged on one of sai-d rail bars and adapted to engage the other` rail bar for limiting the unfolding movement of said rails. A

4;. A protecting device'for areavvays, comprising a door pivoted at one end to one side of said areaway so that it Can be lowered into its closed horizontal position over said area-Way and raised into a. vertical open position, and a guard connected with said door and movable into its operative position along side of the areaway upon opening the door and into its inoperative position Within the areaWa-y upon closing the door, said guard comprisinga normally upright post pivoted on the side of theareavvay opposite the pivot of the door, two pairs of Vrail bars normally arranged horizontallyone above the other, the members of eaeh pair having `their 1n-v ner opposing ends pivotally connected with eaeh other and their outer ends pivotally connected with the upper end of said post and the `underside of said door, respectively.

5. A protecting device forareaways, comprising a doorpivoted at one end to one side of said area-Wayl so that it can be lowered into its closed horizontal position over said areaway and raised into a `vertical open position, and a guard conneetedwith said door and movable into its operative position along side of the areavvay upon opening the door and into its 'inoperativeposition Within the areaway upon closing Athe door, said guard ner opposing ends pivotallyconnected with each other and their outer ends pivotally connected With the upper end of said post and the underside of said door, respectively; and al stop arranged on the inner end of one member of eaeh pair and adapted to engage ivi th the inner end of the companion member of the same pair in the unfolded position of the same. Y

6. A protecting device for areavvays, oomprising a. hoisting apparatus arranged in said areaWay and having a vertically movaf ble member, a horizontal track mounted on said `vertically movable member7 and guard composed of a plurality of bars which are pivotally connected with each other in theform of lazy-tongs so as' to be capable oit folding and unfolding horizontally, means for guiding some of the pivots of said guard on said vertically `movable member of said hoisting apparatus, and a springeonneoting two cooperating members of said guard and operating to hold the latteryieldingly in its unfolded condition;

7.. A protecting .device for areaivays, coinprising a vertically swinging door pivotally mounted at one end on one side of said area- Way, a vertically movable gate adapted to extend along the opposite side of the area# Way, 'foldable it'ence sections arranged beteen opposite ends of said gate and door and eaeh Connected with said door and areaivay, respectively; and a hoisting apparatus arranged in said areavvay and having a vertically movable member which earries said v,

O'ate.' n 'n r b In testimony whereof I herebyafrlx my signature.

CHARLES K. ERNST. y 

